Do you think Miriam Witherspoon is serious? Do you think she really expects the Birmingham City Council today to go along with her idea for a $30,000 a year pay raise for the City Council? That's give these part-time public servants a 120 percent raise to $55,000 a year. (Read our editorial here.)

Well, I guess I should wait before declaring the idea dead on arrival, because there's no telling what this council might do. But at least four council members -- Carole Smitherman, Valerie Abbott, Carol Duncan and William Bell -- said they opposed such a high pay raise. Joel Montgomery likely would go for it, along with Witherspoon and Steven Hoyt. That leaves Maxine Parker and Roderick Royal as the spoilers. If either one is against, it's a no-go. But if both go for it, the raise might pass, 5-4.

If this proposal isn't withdrawn and the council approves the raise, especially in today's economic climate, no City Council member who supported it should win re-election. With so many people struggling to make ends meet, this is outrageous.

What do you think? Council members make $25,000 a year now ($15,000 salary; $10,000 expenses). Is that enough? What would be a reasonable play raise?